Haiti program founder's release may hinge on higher bond

Judge hints higher bond may be OK

By Michael P. Mayko, STAFF WRITER

Published
11:15 am EDT, Monday, October 19, 2009

NEW HAVEN -- Real estate in three states worth $2.3 million, a part-time job with a Fairfield lawyer and residence at a retired Fairfield lawyer's home were not enough to secure Doug Perlitz's release on bond Thursday.

But another $3 million, as well as an additional custodian or two, might get the founder of a charitable program in Haiti out of jail until his trial on charges of sexually abusing nine of the children he was helping.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis continued the hearing to Oct. 19 after indicating she might be more receptive to a $4 million to $5 million bond with more local involvement "given the gravity of the charges."

Perlitz, a thin, sandy-haired man dressed in prison khakis, waved to supporters who packed a side of the courtroom to witness him plead not guilty to seven charges of traveling overseas to engage in sexual conduct with minors and three charges of engaging in illegal sexual conduct with minors. Each charge carries a maximum 30-year prison term.

Margolis heard William F. Dow III, Perlitz's lawyer, disclose the "government is extremely interested in Paul Carrier," the Jesuit priest who served as Fairfield University's director of campus ministry and community service as well as headed the Haiti Fund, which raised millions for Perlitz's Project Pierre Toussaint program.

The program, which began as a street clinic grew into a residential school for street boys in Cap Haitian, Haiti, also built a two-story home where Perlitz lived. He was referred to as the "King of Project Pierre Toussaint."

Dow said if Perlitz were released on bond he could work part time in the law office of Thomas Tisdale on Spruce Street, Fairfield, and live with Anthony and Laura Sirianni in Fairfield while wearing an electronic monitoring device.

"Short of putting him in a police station, handcuffed and strapped to a radiator, this is about as tight a control to put on any person," the defense lawyer said.

But it wasn't enough for Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna Patel, who said she knows of "no studies that those who molest children stop when they cross" a continent.

Patel, who specializes in prosecuting sexual-abuse cases, said she never had "a hands-on sex offender released by the court."

The prosecutor further advised the judge she would like to question any person who comes forward as a third-party custodian or agrees to post bond for Perlitz, as well determine who is paying for Perlitz's defense. Perlitz told a federal agent he only has "about $1,000," according to court documents.

Tisdale as well as any other "current or former board members "of the Haiti Fund could clearly be a witness in the case," Patel said. "Certain board members engaged in conduct of a very disturbing nature."

The federal probe determined more than $2 million was transferred from the Haiti Fund to an account Perlitz controlled in Haiti.

"These monies did not include other significant capital expenses and other expenses that were directly paid by the Haiti Fund for Project Pierre Toussaint," Patel said in court papers. "Perlitz had access to an enormous sum of money ... and thus far there does not appear to be an accurate accounting of what happened to these monies."

Western Union records confirm that from 2008 through 2009, "Perlitz was sending money" to individuals in Haiti formerly enrolled in his program, she said.

The prosecutor also charged that beginning in July 2008 and continuing until March, Perlitz traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet with some of the children and adults associated with his program, shuttered recently because of lack of funds. On the night before Perlitz's Sept. 16 arrest in Colorado, Patel said he admitted receiving 17 calls from Haiti.

The Haitian national police department, which began investigating Perlitz's activities, has a warrant for his arrest.

During a conversation with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Perlitz denied sexually abusing any of the children. But he allegedly said "molestation would be tough" but the victims "should just get over it ... He said he got over his father's death and even though it was tough he moved on ..." Patel disclosed in court papers.

Dow downplayed the allegations, claiming they arose out of a rift between differing groups of people operating the Haiti Fund and Project Pierre Toussaint.

"There are a number of people who support and believe fervently in his innocence and the good works he's done," Dow said.